Liquid make-up stick and method of manufacturing and using the same

ABSTRACT

The specification relates to an apparatus for a dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus can include a cap assembly, the cap assembly including a plug and a first section of a first locking mechanism; a barrel assembly, the barrel assembly including a barrel body, a dispensing tip, a second section of the first locking mechanism and a first section of the second locking mechanism; and a riser assembly, the riser assembly including a bottom shell, a screw assembly and a first section of the second locking mechanism.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter described herein relates to a liquid make-up stick and method of manufacturing and using the same.

Applying makeup can be difficult especially when applying products such as lipstick or lip gloss. These products can be applied with a pencil, a brush or a stick applicator. The product should be applied smoothly without clumping or over-applying to a small, defined area, e.g. the lips.

These applicators are usually stored in a handbag of a user so that the product may be applied throughout the day. Therefore, the delivery method for the applicator is best if it can be safely stored without accidentally opening during storage. The applicator should also have a dispensing tip with a good application feel as well as delivering a consistent and even flow of a product.

SUMMARY

The disclosed technology relates to a liquid make-up stick and method of manufacturing and using the same.

In one implementation, a dispensing apparatus comprises a cap assembly, the cap assembly including a plug and a first section of a first locking mechanism; a barrel assembly, the barrel assembly including a barrel body, a dispensing tip, a second section of the first locking mechanism and a first section of the second locking mechanism; and a riser assembly, the riser assembly including a bottom shell, a screw assembly and a first section of the second locking mechanism.

In some implementations, the first section of a first locking mechanism can interface with the second section of the first locking mechanism to removably lock the cap assembly to the barrel assembly. In some implementations, the plug can be inserted into an aperture of the dispensing tip when the cap is removably locked to the barrel assembly. In some implementations, the cap assembly and the barrel assembly can form a tight seal so that medium does not escape from the barrel body when being stored.

In some implementations, the dispensing tip can include an aperture for delivering a medium to user. In some implementations, the dispensing tip can include a delivery nozzle attached to the barrel body, an applicator valve and a retaining cap. In some implementations, the applicator valve can be a flexible silicon.

In some implementations, the dispensing tip can include an attachment portion integrated into the barrel body, a delivery nozzle, an applicator valve and a retaining cap. In some implementations, the applicator valve can be a flexible silicon.

In some implementations, the first section of a second locking mechanism can interface with the second section of the second locking mechanism to rotatably secure the barrel assembly to the riser assembly. In some implementations, the riser assembly can rotate with respect to the barrel assembly thereby allowing the medium to flow to the aperture of the barrel assembly.

In some implementations, the screw assembly can include a riser and a screw. In some implementations, a shape of the riser can allow the barrel body to be fully or near-fully evacuated when the riser is fully extended on the screw and within the dispensing tip. In some implementations, a stop step on the screw can limit a starting point for the riser thereby reducing a fill volume for the barrel body.

In some implementations, a third locking mechanism can be included with a first section of the third locking mechanism being located on the bottom shell and a second section of the third locking mechanism being located on the screw assembly. In some implementations, the third locking mechanism can be fixedly secured the bottom shell to the screw assembly. In some implementations, the bottom shell and the screw assembly are an integrated single piece.

One advantage of the disclosed technology is that a shape of the riser can allow the barrel body to be fully or near-fully evacuated when the riser is fully extended on the screw and within the dispensing tip. Another advantage of the disclosed technology is that the applicator valve can be made from a flexible silicone that allows a user to easily apply the medium to a desired body part and has a better fell on a user's skin while maintaining a better flow control for mediums having viscous formulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed technology will become better understood with regard to following description and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views where:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an implementation of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view of LINE A-A of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of DETAIL B of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of DETAIL C of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of LINE F-F of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cap assembly and barrel assembly of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 8 is cross-sectional view of LINE D-D of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the riser assembly of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 10 is cross-sectional view of LINE E-E of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of a second implementation of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a third implementation of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is cross-sectional view of LINE A-A of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a close-up view of DETAIL D of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is cross-sectional view of LINE C-C of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 a front exploded view of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a side view of a fourth implementation of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 19 is a close-up view of DETAIL D of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is a front exploded view of the implementation of the disclosed technology as shown in FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specification relates to a liquid make-up stick capable of releasing a cosmetic or medicinal medium in a controlled and efficient manner.

FIGS. 1-10 show an implementation of the disclosed technology. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the disclosed technology can be a device 10 that includes three sections—a cap assembly 20, a barrel assembly 40 and a riser assembly 60. The device 10 can be cylindrical in shape with a height, H, and the cap assembly can have an overall diameter D₁ that can be slightly larger than a diameter, D₂ of the riser assembly. The height, H, can vary between 1 to 10 inches while the diameters, D₁ and D₂ can vary between 0.025 to 3″. Other heights, diameters, shapes and configurations are contemplated.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional length (LINE A-A) of the interior of the device 10. In FIG. 3, the cap assembly 20 is shown to have an outer shell 22 and an inner shell 24. The outer shell 22 can serve as an exterior protectant shell and can be of any color for aesthetic purposes. The inner shell 24 has a top wall 28 and cylindrical sides 29 and incorporates multiple functionalities on an interior surface thereof.

The inner shell 24 can have a plug 26. The plug 26 can extend from a center of the top surface 28 and can be inserted into an aperture 44 of the barrel section, as will be discussed more fully below.

The device 10 can include a first locking mechanism 31 (shown in FIG. 5) with a first section 30 being located on the inner shell 24 of the cap assembly 20 and a cooperating section 50 located on a body 42 of the barrel assembly 40. The first section 32 includes a recess 31 and a protrusion 32 and the cooperating section 50 includes a protrusion 51 and recesses 52, 54 on either side of the protrusion 51. The first locking mechanism 31 can be used to removably lock the cap assembly 20 to the barrel assembly 40. Specifically, the first section 30 interlocks with the cooperating section 50 so as to secure the cap assembly 20 to the barrel assembly 40 when the device 10 is being stored as well as allowing the cap assembly 20 to be removed from the barrel assembly 40 when in use.

As shown in FIG. 3, an inner diameter of the cap assembly 20 can be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the barrel assembly 40 so that the cap assembly 20 can partially cover the barrel assembly 40 and surround an upper portion of the barrel assembly 40 when being stored. The cap assembly 20 and barrel assembly 40 can form a tight seal as a safety measure so that that the device 10 does not leak if any medium escapes from the barrel body 42.

The barrel section 40 includes a tip 41, a cylindrical body 42 and an open end 46. The tip 41 can be cone-shaped but other shapes are contemplated. The cone-shaped tip allows a user to easily apply the medium to a desired body part. As discussed above, the tip can have aperture 44 located at a center of the tip. The aperture 44 can be used to deliver a medium to a user for application. The aperture 44 can be closed when the plug 26 of the cap assembly 20 is inserted into the aperture 44.

The cylindrical body 42 forms a holding vessel for the medium. The medium is forced from the body 42 through the use of a riser assembly 60 discussed below.

The body 42 includes a second locking mechanism 71 for securing the body 42 to the riser assembly 60 (as shown in FIG. 4). The second locking mechanism 71 includes a recess 56 being located on the interior of the body 42 and a protrusion 72 located on a screw assembly 64 of the riser assembly 60. As shown in FIG. 3, an inner diameter of the barrel assembly 40 can be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the screw assembly 64 so that the screw assembly 64 can fit within the barrel assembly 40 allowing the recess 56 to interlock with protrusion 72. This configuration allows the riser assembly 20 to be rotatably secured to the barrel assembly 40. In use, a user can rotate the riser assembly 60 with respect to the barrel assembly 40 which in turn allows the medium to flow to the aperture 44 of the barrel assembly 40.

The riser assembly 60 includes a bottom shell 62, a screw assembly 64, a riser 66 and a screw 68. The riser 66 can be cone-shaped and is shaped to fit into a cavity created with the cone-shaped tip 41 of the barrel section 40. The riser 66 also includes two washers 76 a, 76 b that are flexible and contact an interior surface of the body 42 so as to move the medium up through the barrel during use. The shape of the riser 66 and the washers 76 a, 76 b allow the body 42 to be fully or near-fully evacuated when the riser 66 is fully extended within the tip 41 and the medium can be no longer be delivered to the aperture 44. This configuration produces a minimal loss of medium in the barrel assembly 40.

In a second implementation, as shown in FIG. 11, the riser assembly 90 can be an integrated single piece assembly with a cored out bottom 91. The riser assembly 90 can also include a stop step 92 on the screw thread 94 to limit a starting point for riser 93 thereby reducing fill volume for a medium within the body 42. This riser assembly 90 can be fitted onto the barrel assembly 40 using screw threads 95.

The device 10 can include a third locking mechanism 73 (shown in FIG. 4) with a first section 75 being located on the interior of the bottom shell 62 and a cooperating section 76 located on the screw assembly 64. The first section 75 includes a recess 76 and protrusion 78 and the cooperating section 76 includes protrusion 74. The first section 75 interlocks with the cooperating section 76 so as to secure the screw assembly 64 to the bottom shell 62. As shown in FIG. 4, an inner diameter of the bottom shell 62 can be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the screw assembly 64 so that the screw assembly 64 can interlock with the bottom shell 64. For added strength, the bottom portion of the screw assembly 64 can be adhered to the bottom portion of the bottom shell 62 with an adhesive 70, e.g., a hot glue melt or some other known adhesive or adhesion method.

The device 10 can be manufactured using different methods known in in the art, e.g., injection molding. Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting material into a mold. Injection molding can be performed with a host of materials, including metals, (for which the process is called die-casting), glasses, elastomers, confections, and most commonly thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Material for the part is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity, where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity. After a product is designed, usually by an industrial designer or an engineer, molds are made by a moldmaker (or toolmaker) from metal, usually either steel or aluminum, and precision-machined to form the features of the desired part. Injection molding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts. Advances in 3D printing technology, using photopolymers which do not melt during the injection molding of some lower temperature thermoplastics, can be used for some simple injection molds. Parts to be injection molded must be very carefully designed to facilitate the molding process; the material used for the part, the desired shape and features of the part, the material of the mold, and the properties of the molding machine must all be taken into account. The versatility of injection molding is facilitated by this breadth of design considerations and possibilities.

Once the parts are molded, the parts can be assembled and filled. For example, in a first step, the cap assembly 20 and barrel assembly 40 can be fitted together using the first locking mechanism 31. Once fitted together, the cap assembly 20 can be turn on its head and the body 42 filled with a medium. In a second step, the screw assembly 64 can be fixedly secured to a bottom shell 62 using the third locking mechanism 73. In a third step, the assembled riser assembly 60 can be snap-fitted to the filled barrel assembly 40 using second locking mechanism 71. The device 10 can then be packaged for sale.

In use, a user can remove the cap assembly 20 from the barrel assembly 40. The user then turns the bottom shell 62 which in turn causes the screw assembly 64 to turn which in turn causes the riser 66 to rise. As the riser 66 rises, the medium can be pushed through the aperture 44 for application. After application, the user can reattach the cap assembly 20 to the barrel assembly 40. The medium can be any cosmetic or medicinal composition capable of being dispenses through the aperture, e.g., lipstick, lip gloss, sunscreens, foundation, topical skin ointments, and any other composition capable of being dispensed through the aperture of the disclosed technology.

FIGS. 12-17 show another implementation of the disclosed technology. As shown in FIG. 12, the disclosed technology can be a device 100 that includes three sections—a cap assembly 120, a barrel assembly 140 and a riser assembly 160. The device 100 can be cylindrical in shape with a height, H₁, and the device 100 can have an overall diameter D₁. The height, H₁, can vary between 1 to 10 inches while the diameter, D₁, can vary between 0.025 to 3″. The cap can have a height, H₂, and can vary between 0.1 to 1 inches. Other heights, diameters, shapes and configurations are contemplated.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional length (LINE A-A) of the interior of the device 100. In FIG. 14, the cap assembly 120 can be a single piece and the outermost diameter of the cap 122 can align with an outermost diameter of the barrel assembly 140. The cap assembly 120 and barrel assembly 140 can form a tight seal as a safety measure so that that the device 100 does not leak if any medium escapes from the barrel body 142. The cap 122 can serve as an exterior protectant shell and can be of any color for aesthetic purposes. The cap 122 can have a top wall 128 and cylindrical sides 129 and incorporates multiple functionalities on an interior surface thereof.

The inner portion of the cap 122 can have a plug 126 incorporated therein. The plug 126 can extend from a center of the top surface 128 and can be inserted into an aperture 144 of the barrel section 140, as will be discussed more fully below.

The device 100 can include a first locking mechanism 131 (shown in FIG. 15) with a first section 130 being located on the cap 122 and a cooperating section 150 located on a body 142 of the barrel assembly 140. The first section 132 includes a recess 133 and a protrusion 132 and the cooperating section 150 includes a protrusion 151 and recesses 152, 154 on either side of the protrusion 151. The first locking mechanism 131 can be used to removably lock the cap assembly 120 to the barrel assembly 140. Specifically, the first section 130 interlocks with the cooperating section 150 so as to secure the cap assembly 120 to the barrel assembly 140 when the device 100 is being stored as well as allowing the cap assembly 120 to be removed from the barrel assembly 140 when in use.

The barrel section 140 includes a tip 141 and a cylindrical body 142. The tip 141 can be cone-shaped and assembled using multiple components as shown in FIG. 17. The tip can include (1) a delivery nozzle 141 c attached to the body 142 of the barrel assembly 140, (2) an applicator valve 141 b and (3) retaining cap 141 c. During assembly, the applicator valve 141 b is attached to the delivery nozzle 141 c and the retaining cap 141 a is placed over and mounted to the delivery nozzle 11 c. This tip 141 allows the applicator valve 141 b to be made from a material that is different from the body 142 a, e.g., a flexible or molded silicone can be used as the applicator valve allows a user to easily apply the medium to a desired body part. Other advantages include a better fell on a user's skin and better flow control of viscous formulations.

As discussed above, the tip can have aperture 144 located at a center of the tip 141. The aperture 144 can be used to deliver a medium to user for application. The aperture 144 can be closed when the plug 126 of the cap assembly 120 is inserted into the aperture 144.

The cylindrical body 142 forms a holding vessel for the medium. The medium is forced from the body 142 through the use of a riser assembly 160 discussed below.

The body 142 includes a second locking mechanism 171 for securing the body 142 to the riser assembly 160 (as shown in FIG. 14). The second locking mechanism 171 includes a recess 156 being located on the interior of the body 142 and a protrusion 172 located on a screw assembly 164 of the riser assembly 160. As shown in FIG. 14, an inner diameter of the barrel assembly 140 can be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the screw assembly 164 so that the screw assembly 164 can fit within the barrel assembly 140 allowing the recess 156 to interlock with protrusion 172. This configuration allows the riser assembly 120 to be rotatably secured to the barrel assembly 140. In use, a user can rotate the riser assembly 160 with respect to the barrel assembly 140 which in turn allows the medium to flow to the aperture 144 of the barrel assembly 140.

The riser assembly 160 includes a bottom shell 162, a screw assembly 164, a riser 166 and a screw 168. The riser 166 can be cone-shaped and is shaped to fit into a cavity created with the cone-shaped tip 141 of the barrel section 140. The riser 166 also includes side walls that contact an interior surface of the body 142 so as to move the medium up through the barrel during use. The shape of the riser 166 allows the body 142 to be fully or near-fully evacuated when the riser 166 is fully extended within the tip 141 and the medium can be no longer be delivered to the aperture 144. This configuration produces a minimal loss of medium in the barrel assembly 140.

In another implementation, shown in FIGS. 18-20, the disclosed technology can be a device 200 that includes three sections—a cap assembly 220, a barrel assembly 240 and a riser assembly 260.

The barrel section 240 can include a tip 241 and a cylindrical body 242. The tip 241 can be cone-shaped and assembled using multiple components as shown in FIG. 20. The tip can include (1) an attachment portion 241 d integrated into the body 142, (2) a delivery nozzle 141 c, (3) an applicator 141 b and (4) retaining cap 141 c. During assembly, the delivery nozzle is mounted onto the attachment portion 241 d, the applicator is attached to the delivery nozzle, and the retaining cap is placed over and mounted to the nozzle. This tip 241 allows the applicator valve 241 b to be made from a material that is different from the body 242 a, e.g., a flexible or molded silicone can be used as the applicator valve allows a user to easily apply the medium to a desired body part. Other advantages include a better fell on a user's skin and better flow control of viscous formulations.

The assembled tip 141 allows a user to easily apply the medium to a desired body part. As discussed above, the tip can have aperture 144 located at a center of the applicator 141 b. The aperture 144 can be used to deliver a medium to user for application. The aperture 144 can be closed when the plug 126 of the cap assembly 120 is inserted into the aperture 144.

The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative, but not restrictive, and the scope of the disclosed technology disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the implementations shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the disclosed technology and that various modifications can be implemented without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed technology. 

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising: a cap assembly, the cap assembly including a plug and a first section of a first locking mechanism; a barrel assembly, the barrel assembly including a barrel body, a dispensing tip, a second section of the first locking mechanism and a first section of the second locking mechanism; and a riser assembly, the riser assembly including a bottom shell, a screw assembly and a first section of the second locking mechanism.
 2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first section of a first locking mechanism interfaces with the second section of the first locking mechanism to removably lock the cap assembly to the barrel assembly.
 3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plug is inserted into an aperture of the dispensing tip when the cap is removably locked to the barrel assembly.
 4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cap assembly and the barrel assembly form a tight seal so that medium does not escapes from the barrel body.
 5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing tip includes an aperture for delivering a medium to user.
 6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing tip includes a delivery nozzle attached to the barrel body, an applicator valve and a retaining cap.
 7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the applicator valve is a flexible silicon.
 8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing tip includes an attachment portion integrated into the barrel body, a delivery nozzle, an applicator valve and a retaining cap.
 9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the applicator valve is a flexible silicon.
 10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first section of a second locking mechanism interfaces with the second section of the second locking mechanism to rotatably secures the barrel assembly to the riser assembly.
 11. The dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the riser assembly rotates with respect to the barrel assembly thereby allowing the medium to flow to the aperture of the barrel assembly.
 12. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screw assembly including a riser and a screw.
 13. The dispensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein a shape of the riser allows the barrel body to be fully or near-fully evacuated when the riser is fully extended on the screw and within the dispensing tip.
 14. The dispensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein a stop step on the screw limits a starting point for riser thereby reducing a fill volume for the barrel body.
 15. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third locking mechanism with a first section of the third locking mechanism being located on the bottom shell and a second section of the third locking mechanism being located on the screw assembly.
 16. The dispensing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the third locking mechanism fixedly secures the bottom shell to the screw assembly.
 17. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom shell and the screw assembly are an integrated single piece. 